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Associate Laboratory Director, Emergency Preparedness


Pay Grade: R

****URGENTLY HIRING****


This is a FEDERAL GRANT FUNDED position and is subject to available grant funds.



Who We Are. We protect lives. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to proudly protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in diverse communities statewide. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing the State of Georgia for responding to disasters.
 
 What We Offer. As a member of the DPH team, you will join a passionate group of individuals who are dedicated to making an impact.  No matter your role, you will individually contribute to protecting the lives of all Georgians while receiving a wide range of benefits, so you can:
  • Make a Professional Impact – Build your career where it matters and protect lives in the community where you live, work, and play.
  • Enjoy Workplace Flexibility – Experience flexibility in how you work so you can be your best self for you and Georgia Residents.
  • Work with a Dynamic and Diverse Team – Collaborative and inclusive way of working where employees share ideas and leverage collective strengths. 
  • Achieve Career Longevity – Countless opportunities for continuous learning/development that support a long-term career.
  • Take Part in a Hands-on Working Culture – Unique culture of active engagement and problem-solving, no matter your role.
  • Feel Pride in Where you Work – Be part of making an impact in public health alongside dedicated people just like you.
As an accredited public health department, we're seeking a highly qualified candidate for the position of Associate Laboratory Director, Emergency Preparedness within the Georgia Public Health Laboratory located in Decatur, GA. This position oversees the Biological Threat, Chemical Threat, and Biowatch units at GPHL. The incumbent is responsible for development of Emergency Response procedures for GPHL as well as the Continuity of Operations planning. 

The individual in this position manages the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement funding for the Georgia Public Health Laboratory and ensures the completion of required activities and planning in coordination with the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response’s PHEP Program. The incumbent will also serve as a Responsible Official for the Select Agent program.

Requirements

  • Oversees, develops and implements related policies and procedures. 
  • Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates the delivery of health services. 
  • Monitors and evaluates healthcare programs. 
  • Provides leadership to subordinate managers and staff.
  • Plans, organizes, and directs the laboratory activities of the Laboratory Emergency Preparedness Service Unit of the Georgia Public Health Laboratory.
  • Conducts or participates in the development, review, revision, interpretation, and/or implementation for policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines for Emergency Preparedness.
  • Ensures compliance and implementation of all regulations governing the work of the laboratory unit for emergency preparedness.
  • Provide technical expertise for the development, validation and implementation of chemical and biological threat testing and result interpretation. 
  • Provides updates to DPH partners. Coordinates interaction between department, agency, and facility operating units, other programs, and /or external customers as appropriate
  • Serves as a technical consultant or resource for colleagues and staff, health department managers and healthcare providers; develops and presents educational and/or training sessions, as needed.
  • Reviews and evaluates the overall quality management system as it applies to their area of responsibility, to include, but not limited to, personnel management, oversight of equipment and inventory procurement, document and records management, and oversight of the quality assessment plan and continuous quality improvement program.
  • Develops, implements, and monitors grants and cooperative agreements for Emergency Preparedness and for biological and chemical threats.
  • Collaborates with senior managers to develop the program’s strategic goals in accordance with the mission of the agency.
  • Analyzes data, and prepares technical and administrative reports for the laboratory director, and for grants, publications and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintains and fosters communication among staff and with public health partners and customers.
  • Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
  • Serves as integral member of the lab leadership team.
  • Participates in the development and administration of budgets.

Qualifications

Master's degree in healthcare services or related field from an accredited college or university and eight (8) years of professional managerial or supervisory experience in healthcare services, or four (4) years of experience at the lower-level Dir, Healthcare (HCM014) or position equivalent.
Note: Some positions may require certification and/or licensure.

Additional Qualifications:
  • Must possess an earned doctoral degree in biology, microbiology, chemistry or related fields; and must either be certified as high complexity laboratory director or eligible for such certification, by an accepted certifying agency. 
  • Must submit international evaluation if degree was granted by a foreign educational institution.
  • Required to meet Federal (CLIA'88) certification requirements for a Clinical Laboratory Director.
  • Must possess certification as a High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD) or pass an approved certifying examination within eighteen (18) months of hire date as a condition of employment.
  • U.S. citizenship required, and must pass Select Agent (SA) security clearance: (http://www.selectagents.gov/Regulations.html).
  • At least four (4) years of demonstrated technical experience in a clinical laboratory.

The DPH Commissioner and leaders encourage all employees to engage in regular wellness activities and to make lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being. 

The use of physical activity breaks during the workday is authorized to support this philosophy and assist employees in meeting their wellness goals. A maximum of 30 minutes of physical activity can be allocated per workday, typically in the form of two 15-minute breaks or one 30-minute break.

Employment Information

Current State employees are subject to State Personnel Board rules regarding salary.

DPH accepts educational credentials recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the US Department of Education (DOE) as valid. DPH will contact educational institutions to verify degrees, diplomas, licensures, and other relevant credentials.

The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening and a criminal background check.

Relocation assistance will not be provided.

As an employee of DPH, in the event of an identified emergency you may be required, as a term and condition of employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department. 

ADA Statement

DPH is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, and employment for individuals with disabilities.  If you require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), email a request by the closing date of this announcement to:DPH-ADA@dph.ga.gov.

DPH is an Equal Opportunity Employer

____________________________________________________________________

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview.  DPH will contact selected applicants to proceed with the next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

Date Posted
05/20/2026
Job Reference
2026-00478
Organization
Medical-Clinical Svcs/Lab
Location
1749 Clairmont Dr, Decatur, GA
Category
Executive
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